DCE to announce retierment

[Stuey Davis’s Socks]

You must have a plan and a heirs otherwise you fall significantly when important players retire. Parramatta suffered that fate when Sterling retired followed by Cronin and so on.

Sterlo retired in 1992, while the Crow and Ray Price retired together 6 years earlier after the 1986 GF, but your point about planning is still valid.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Just looking over a couple of thing, Shaun Johnson was also a rookie in 2011, interestingly enough from what I could find, 15 rookie halfbacks have made the Gf in 116 years, not great odds, but not bad either just over 12%, however on the other hand just 7 over the age of 30 have won a GF and only 2 over 35 which is just over 1%, so it’s a very rare feat for a senior (over 35) halfback to come away with.

Going off statistics its more likely that a rookie will lift the trophy, in saying that there’s a caveat attached, bit like a super add, “past performance is no indication of future performance”. Should Chez lift the trophy he will set a new benchmark as the oldest half back to raise the trophy. Cronk holds that tittle at 35 years 305 days, Jim Craig was the only other 35 yo to do it, 1930 with Western Suburbs.

The records about older halves are less relevant because it's only in the last decade or so that there's been a trend for star playmakers to play on well into their 30s.
Probably through a combination of the pay being higher than ever, along with the role being more demanding, so very few youngsters are capable of taking over an NRL side successfully.
Isaah Katoa at Dolphins is a standout but can't think of any others really. Hynes was a breakout star but he wasn't young and he wasn't even a regular halfback.

You can’t enjoy the fruit if you don’t plant the trees

Yeah you can - you can get some off vines! 🙂

 

[LeonardCohen]

The records about older halves are less relevant because it's only in the last decade or so that there's been a trend for star playmakers to play on well into their 30s.
Probably through a combination of the pay being higher than ever, along with the role being more demanding, so very few youngsters are capable of taking over an NRL side successfully.
Isaah Katoa at Dolphins is a standout but can't think of any others really. Hynes was a breakout star but he wasn't young and he wasn't even a regular halfback.



Yeah you can - you can get some off vines! 🙂

And the interesting thing about the ‘successful Katoa’ is that he has been dropped on more than one occasion and his side failed to reach finals on both occasions.
I agree, he is a standout talent and the Dolphins missing the finals is certainly not all his doing, but it speaks to the uphill battle that even the most prodigious of talents face in guiding a team around the park.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

And the interesting thing about the ‘successful Katoa’ is that he has been dropped on more than one occasion and his side failed to reach finals on both occasions.
I agree, he is a standout talent and the Dolphins missing the finals is certainly not all his doing, but it speaks to the uphill battle that even the most prodigious of talents face in guiding a team around the park.

Yep I think that is unarguable.
Some people here might be underestimating just what a champion team it was that DCE debuted in. In fact if Snake hadn't missed 2 seasons who knows what silverware they might have won. Brilliant team, and being skilfully renewed by Hasler with injection of some fresh talent at the time.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

I fully appreciate that it’s part and parcel of the game and players inevitably retire and we move as we have many times before. There’s an element of excitement for a new era to begin and all that, but my excitement is tempered somewhat by the long shadow that DCE will cast.

Most of that shadow, it must be said, is from his neck.

But seriously, I get where you are coming from. Whatever shortcomings our player roster has had over the last decade or so, we haven't had to worry about having a quality half. We've certainly had issues with finding him a quality foil/partner, but we've been very lucky to have him. If only for his longevity and the consistency he's brought to the team makeup, he will be missed.

That said, nobody plays forever and change is inevitable. I think the club is doing all they can to develop some sort of succession plan, with Brooks, Jake Arthur, and younger "guns" like Large and Walsh coming through. Whether it will work or not remains to be seen.

Most young halves struggle for consistency at NRL level, no matter how talented they are. Tim Smith, who had 40 assists in his debut season (40!), soon became just another rugby league cautionary tale. One good season does not guarantee a second good season, let alone a decade of excellence. But somewhere along the line - probably not right away - somebody will put up his hand up to become the next great Manly halfback.

 

[Bearfax]

It’s probably worth adding that a premiership is but one aspect of the transition to consider. It’s not merely a question of can we win a premiership with an inexperienced half, it’s can we avoid battling for the spoon and remain competitive. What I mean to say is my reservation around DCE’s impending retirement is not solely the diminishing prospect of winning a premiership, it’s about Manly remaining competitive.

I’ve seen too many teams flounder at the bottom of the ladder because they have no marquee half. It’s a scary place to be.

I fully appreciate that it’s part and parcel of the game and players inevitably retire and we move as we have many times before. There’s an element of excitement for a new era to begin and all that, but my excitement is tempered somewhat by the long shadow that DCE will cast.

Agreed LC. I think back to 2018. We were one game away from the Wooden Spoon that year and much depended on DCE to avoid that trophy so to speak. DCE has got Manly out of many scrapes over the years. His experience during our very ordinary years over the past decade kept our head above water.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Most young halves struggle for consistency at NRL level, no matter how talented they are. Tim Smith, who had 40 assists in his debut season (40!), soon became just another rugby league cautionary tale.

Tim Smith had a brilliant debut season. He's not the only young half prematurely predicted to excel at NRL - Luke Brooks, Brodie Croft, Kyle Flanagan, Jackson Hastings, Kane Elgey, Lachie Ilias, Jake Clifford, a few who spring to mind.
And some of those may still get there, Mitch Moses took 10 years to get there.

 

[Rafferty]

Yep I think that is unarguable.
Some people here might be underestimating just what a champion team it was that DCE debuted in. In fact if Snake hadn't missed 2 seasons who knows what silverware they might have won. Brilliant team, and being skilfully renewed by Hasler with injection of some fresh talent at the time.

That was actually were the whole thought process began, re having a solid middle to support the rookie half, verses a quality half with less depth, DCE with all his experience and prolonged price tag in conjunction with a couple of other top heavy signings impacted his chance to play in a strong side in the proceeding years.

We currently have a quality FB as a counter to snake and a reasonably exciting backline, what we don’t have is the strong engine room the 2011 side provided.

Either way it will be interesting to see how the future plays out.

 

[Briza]

believe it when i see it, i believe this is his last year of origin and he has expressed his interest in a 2 yr extension at Manly.

 

[lsz]

Re DCE in 2011.

Even though Foz was in his early days he did come into a fair squad...

 

[Stuey Davis’s Socks]

Tim Smith had a brilliant debut season. He's not the only young half prematurely predicted to excel at NRL - Luke Brooks, Brodie Croft, Kyle Flanagan, Jackson Hastings, Kane Elgey, Lachie Ilias, Jake Clifford, a few who spring to mind.

One of the original $1m men, Ash Taylor, is another example.

 

[PONTIAN SEA EAGLE]

There was that rumour about mitch moses wanting to play with brooks. 🤷‍♂️

There were rumours with this a while back I remember it also.It was on the matty johns show.

 

[Dion Johnson]

I wonder if DCE impacted so well in his first season because he had been held back in lower grade because of the half backs we had then, and had his first game when aged 22. He certainly exploded onto the scene in his first year. I remember watching him play some games on TV for Manly's then QLD based reggie side and he looked most impressive and dominant even then.

No doubting DCE and his ability, though when he debuted in 2011 he had Killer outside of him and Joe Gulavao on his inside, lots of experience there along with Snake and Ballin in the spine and Foz who debuted in 2010.

Having good experienced players when a young player emerges onto the scene accelerates their development, Jerome Hughes is a good example of having quality experienced players around him that has grown his game.

When the time comes and DCE does go it will be crucial for that right side defence to have more responsibility on them in assisting the young half.

 

[LeonardCohen]

Most of that shadow, it must be said, is from his neck.

But seriously, I get where you are coming from. Whatever shortcomings our player roster has had over the last decade or so, we haven't had to worry about having a quality half. We've certainly had issues with finding him a quality foil/partner, but we've been very lucky to have him. If only for his longevity and the consistency he's brought to the team makeup, he will be missed.

That said, nobody plays forever and change is inevitable. I think the club is doing all they can to develop some sort of succession plan, with Brooks, Jake Arthur, and younger "guns" like Large and Walsh coming through. Whether it will work or not remains to be seen.

Most young halves struggle for consistency at NRL level, no matter how talented they are. Tim Smith, who had 40 assists in his debut season (40!), soon became just another rugby league cautionary tale. One good season does not guarantee a second good season, let alone a decade of excellence. But somewhere along the line - probably not right away - somebody will put up his hand up to become the next great Manly halfback.

Totally agree. ‘Inevitable’ is absolutely a fact. My only wish is that whilst his body is still up to it, he plays on, because he’s one hell of a player. Getting an extra year out of him in 26’ is a bonus that I’m personally hoping for. That will give our burgeoning rookies another season of development and keep our premiership window open a little longer.